Internal-combustion engine



J. N. FULLER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Jul 3, 1928. 1,675,702

Filed May 22, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E W W q g Q WITNES s55.- mVENToR Wag/0 kfozm azzel; 7 1

ATTORNEY July 3, 1928. 1,675,702

J N. FULLER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed m 22, 1926 {Sheets-Sheet 2 W1TNE$5E5= 5 I INVENTOR:

fullezg- I yne' A TTORNEY- July 3, 1928. v 1,615,702 J. N. FULLER v INTERNAL COIBUSTION ENGINE Filed lay 22. 1926 4 Sheets-Shet 5 Efi' 5 W1TNE55E5: INVENTbR: W6. Jam 1r. fizz/1,

ATTORNEY Jul 3,1928. 1,675,702

J. N. FULLER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed May 22, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WITIVE5 SE5. INVENTOR:

A V I,

w ATTORNVEY.

Patented July s, 1 28.

UNITED STATES 1,675,702 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN N. FULLER, OF LANSDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed Kay 22,

simple and compact in construction.

-These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an internal combustion engine embodying my invention,

Figure 2 a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure '3 a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 a like view taken on line 5--5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 a sectional plan view taken line 66 of Figure 1, and

Figure 7 a diagrammatic view showing the functions of the fuel gases'in the various cylinders during a cycle of operation.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the crank case of an internal combustion engine, 2 a cylinder block secured to the crank case and having cylinders 3 and water jackets 4 surrounding the cylinders, 5 pistons in the cylinders, 6 connecting rods connecting the pistons with a crank shaft 7 rotatably mounted in the'crank case in the usual manner. The crank shaft is geared to a cam shaft 8'by any suitable gearing of a 2 to 1 ratio so that two revolutions of the crank shaft is necessary to rotate the cam shaft one revolution. The cylinder block is rovided with intake ports 9 and intake valves 10 for controlling the passage of gases through the ports into the cylinders. Exhaust ports 11 in the cylinder block communicate with the; cylinders and are 0 need and closed by exhaust valves 12. T e intake valves 10 and the exhaust valves 12 may be ofthe usual tappet type 0 rated b proper cams 13, on cam sha 8, rough p rs 14-iagainst the action of springs .15 w chinormally keep the; valves closed.

The principles of construction thus far de- 1926. Serial No. 110,885.

scribed form no part of my invention which will now be described.

'In order to obtain a maximum transfer of heat from the products of combustion to generate steam, I provide a steam generator 16 on top of the cylinders and shape the bottom wall 17 of the generator to provide a combustion chamber 18 for each cylinder which communicates with the intake and exhaust valves 10 and 12. Each exhaust port 11 is curved upwardly to meet a branch 19 of an exhaust pipe 20 passing through the steam generator. The exhaust gases discharged fromthe'cylinder will pass through the exhaust pipe 20 in the steam generator. The exhaust pipe being submerged in water, 1ts heat will be absorbed by the water to change it to steam. To obtain a greater' heating surface for the transfer of heat, I preferably connect transverse water tubes 21 diametrically across the branches 19 and exhaust pipe 20. The exhaust pipe passes out of the steam generator and may be connected with the mufiler in the usual manner. The steam generator has slits 22 which communicate with water jacket. 4 so that the water heated around the cylinder will pass into the generator to be changed to steam. The steam formed in the steam space 23 of the steam generator passes out through a steam pipe 24 and its escape is controlled by a throttle valve 25 which may be manipulated from a distance by extension rods 26. The steam pipe is connected with a conduit 27 in the cylinder block which communicates with ports 28 leading into the combustion chambers of the cylinders. A steam valve 29 closes each port 28 and controls the passage of the steam into the cylinders.

The steam valve may be of any suitable design preferably of the same type as the in take and exhaust valves 10 and 12 except that two valve heads are provided for each valve to counter-balance the pressure of the steam tending to force the valve open. This valve consists of a main head 29 resting on a seat 30' and a secondary valve head 31 resting on a seat 32. The main valve 29 closes port 28 and controls the admission of steaminto the 1 cylinders. The secondary valve 31 seals the port against leakage of steam along a stem 33 which depends from the valve heads through a stufling box 34 to the outside of the c linder block. When steam valve 29 is cl the downward pressure of the steam on thegecondary valve head 31 will the upward pressure on'the mainvalve head 29Iand thus prevent itfrom being raised from its seat. Each steam valve is held in closed poisittgln by a spring 35 having uperen ring apaclnng' nut 6 o? stufling box 34 an its lower end bearing in a retainer cup 37 secured to the lower end of the stem by a pin 88 passing through the I stem. The valve is opened by a pl r 39 10 w ich, during the operation of the engine, is raised at the proper time by a cam 40 on the cam shaft to admit steam mto the cylinder. Steam generator 23 is preferably made in two sections, a section .41 which carries the exhaust pipe 20 and a section 42 which forms the steam space of the generator. Water may be fed to the steam nerator throu h an inlet pipe 43 connecte to the section 1 The operation of the engine is as follows: -The firing order of the cy inders is 1,3,4, 2 and the cams on the cam shaft open and close the valves at the proper time to accord with is firin order. Assuming that cylinder 0. 1 at t e left hand end of Figure?! has fired, mediately after firing to admit steam in the cylinder, the steam be under ter. pressurethanthepresureo 'thei tedgasesin the cylinder. The riod o admission of steam may be vari Eflicient results may be obtained from about 2Q of the turning vement of the crank. After the lapse of this period the steam valve closes and the power stroke of the PM in cylinder sure of the ignited tinues to val've is opened by its cam. The time at which valve opens may also be and the con;

ous designs of engines. Upon opening of the exhaust.valve, the andsteamareforeed out of the cylinder the upward or exhaust strokeofthe 1ston.lAsthegasesandstea m are exhausterffrom the cylinder, they pass theexhaustport11,branch19and bribe exhaust pipe 20. The heat produced combustion of gases is'ahsorbed by the water the cylinder, the water around the exhaust conduits. After the v Ezmandsteamhavebeen-exhaustedfrom 'eylinder,theexhaudvalveisclosedand theintahevalveisopened immune pistonthenmovesdownwardv po again, the

the steam valve will then open im- 2 an admission period of No. 1, under the presgases the end, at which time the net varied to the requirements of the val-i above the combustion chamber and the water on ite-suctim rt Qandthe intake valve10, after e intahe valve 4 p r pl n me 1 8.

"aetmnofthesteammd v fuel gases takes lace in the other linders I of the engine an the heat produ by the combustion of the is absorbed'by the water surrounding the cylinders, the branches 19 and exhaust pipe 20. The-cdlnminglin of steam and ignited fuel gases has the e fect of tending to prevent a carbon deposit in the cylinders. The cylinders are thus keptpractically free of carbon deposit and the trouble resulting from carbon-choked cylinders is avoided. 1

13 simultgnegus functions of thei1 various ers' an -t eir sequence are 'agrm atically shown in Figure 7. It w1ll be noted at the left handend of this view that while the piston in cylinder 1 is working or Power under the pressure of I gases, the piston in cylinder 2 is exhaustinalthe gases; in cylinder 3 it is compressing e gases and 'm cylinder 4 it is on the suction stroke and is drawing in a charge of fresh fuel gases. The simultaneous functions in the four finders are Power in cylinder No. 1, Ex aust. in linder No. o. 3, and

, Com pression in cylinder Intak in cylinder No. 4. Duringlzhe' exhaust stroke in cylinder No. 1, the ctions in the other linders ma be readily ascertained from Figure 7 and ,wise during the intake and compression strokes. Ifv the, 7 is graduated with 360 of F P31116011! being equivalent to-1 revo-, ution or 860, the exact time at which the diflerent functions begin, maybe madily Itwillbeseen thatthemgine 'ust de-- 'scribedwillutiliuthewasteheato and conduction for tam i ,ing

- chambers of t e the cylinders, and a conduit connected with the exhaust gas controlling valve and passthrough the steam generator.

2. -In an internal combustion engine provided with cylinders, water 'ackets around the cylinders, intake and e aust gas trolling valve and passing through the steam generator.

3. In an internal combustion e 'ne provided with cylinders, intake and ex aust' gas controlling valves and a cam shaft for actuatin the valves; a steam generator mounted on t e cylinders; steam controlling valves communicating with the generator and the c linders and operatively cylinders; a conduit connected .with the exhaust gas, controlling valve and passi through the steam generator, and a series 0 transverse water tubes connected diametrically across the conduit.

'4. In an internal combustion e "ne provided with cylinders, intake and ex aust gas controlling valves and a cam shaft for actuating the valves; a steam generator mounted eonconduit; is secondary valve connected with t e cam shaft for admitting steam into the on the cylinders; steam conduits communieating with the generator and the c linder;

amamvalveinawallofeachconuitfor of steam into the cylcontrolling the passage inders; a slidablestem depen from-the valve and transversel t ugh the ed with the stem for sealing the conduit around the stem; resilient means for keeping the valves in closed position, and means operatively connectin the stem with the cam shaft for opening t e valves. v

6. Inan internalcombustion engine havin combustion chambers, gas controlling va ves communicating therewith, a cam shaft for actuat' the valves and a steam nerator moun onthe combustion chamrs; means for supplying steam to each combustion chamber including a conduit communicating with the generator and havrt communicating with the combusmg a tion c amber a valve stem adapted to be reciprocated by the cam shaft, extending through the conduit; a valve on the stem for closing the rt; a spring encirclin the valve stem for 'ee ing the valve in closed position; and a ancing head carried by the valve stem and disposed the conduit opposite'the port, whereby the premure exerted by the steam on the head valve and prevent the steam from forcing said valve open.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

, JOHN N.

in the wall of will counterbalance the steam pressure on the 

